Lucky Black Eyed Peas Recipes

Steps:

• Saute chopped onions in oil in a 3-quart sauce- or soup-pot; set aside.
• Sort peas carefully to remove stones and dirt, rinse well. Dump peas in pot with onion; add half the garlic cloves and the ham hocks, bay leaves, chopped parsley, cayenne pepper, Tabasco sauce and black pepper.
• Cover with water; cook on high until just boiling, and turn down heat to low, to simmer. Add HOT water as necessary to keep peas covered. Stir occasionally.
• Cut smoked sausage into 3/4-inch slices, then cut slices in quarters. After peas have simmered for about 1-1/2 hours, remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Add sausage and remaining garlic. (It is not necessary to cut up garlic. It'll fall apart -- and your fingers won't smell for days.) When ham hocks have cooled enough to handle, remove skin and discard. Remove meat from bones and gristle from meat. Shred meat and return to pot. Return large bones to pot. Cook on low for another hour or until peas melt in your mouth, keeping them covered with water and stirring as needed to prevent sticking. Peas should be like a bean soup with plenty of liquid, or you can smash up a few peas to create a smooth, thick consistence.
• Carefully, salt to taste. Remove bay leaves and bones. Serve with a dash of vinegar (malt, if possible) and steamed white rice (to cool the palate -- optional). Makes 30 1/2-cup servings. Recipe may be halved. Do not freeze leftovers.

Steps:

• Cook bacon in large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until crispy.
• Drain off all but 1 T of the drippings.
• Add onion; cook, stirring, until lightly browned, 5 minutes.
• Stir in red pepper and garlic; cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add rice; cook, stirring, until lightly colored, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth, peas, salt, thymeand peppers; heat to a boil.
• Cover; reduce heat.
• Cook until rice is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in parsley.

Steps:

• Combine the peas and tomatoes in a saucepan and set over low heat.
• Cut the Velveeta into 1-inch hunks and add to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the Velveeta melts. This is a slow process -- for the first 10 minutes, it looks as if it will never happen. But don't be tempted to turn up the heat, as the mixture burns easily. (Trust me on this.).
• Remove from heat and serve. The mixture may seem thin at first, but it thickens well over time, and as it is reheated. Serve with tortilla chips or scoop-shaped corn chips.
• Eventually the dip gets so thick that chips break as you scoop it, so add a little of the reserved tomato liquid, if needed.